Dubai is not particularly pedestrian-friendly and taxis are the best way to travel around the city. Dubi taxis, known for their cream colored cars, are relatively inexpensive and easy to locate outside hotels or flagged down almost anywhere in Dubai. All taxis are metered, air conditioned and have well trained and courteous drivers. The minimum fare is Dhs10 (USD 2.7) with an additional Dhs1.75 (40 cents) per kilometer.

Dubai Taxi: 04 2080808

National Taxi: 04 3390002/ 600-54332204

Metro Taxis: 04 2673222/ 600-566000

Dubai Transport also offers taxi booking services through SMS. You can text 4774 to request a taxi at one of the taxi ranks in Dubai. Each taxirank has a location number which you need to include in your SMS request, and you should receive either a confirmation reply or a telephone call from a nearby taxi. If there is a taxi already waiting at the taxi rank, then you don't need to send an SMS first.

Metro

Dubai Metro, launched in September 2009, is a light rail system that links Dubai International Airport with the city centre, the business district and various shopping malls. All trains are fully air-conditioned and operate on a driverless, fully automated trains system.

Though not very intricate, the system extends to reach the main areas and attractions in Dubai and is a well-used and cheap way to get around parts of the city, with fares as low as Dhs1.80, and the most expensive standard fare less than Dhs6. You will need a Noll card. Full details of the route and stations are available here.

Dubai Metro trains currently run at 10-minute intervals, between stations located across the city. Upon completion in 2012, it will be the world’s longest driverless metro system.

Buses

A widely spread network of public transport buses also operates throughout Dubai, though this is rarely used by Western expats, due to the convenience of taxis. The service is extremely cheap, but routes can be convoluted, journey times lengthy and timings erratic.